At the end of the event, Luz Marina Zuluaga of Colombia crowned Akiko Kojima of Japan as Miss Universe 1959.[1] Kojima was the first representative of Japan, and the first Asian woman to win the contest.[2]
Contestants from thirty-four countries and territories competed in this year's pageant. The pageant was hosted by Byron Palmer.
Background
Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, the venue of Miss Universe 1959
Selection of participants
Contestants from thirty-four countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant.
Debuts, returns, and withdrawals
This edition saw the debuts of Bolivia, Burma, and Luxembourg, and the returns of Austria, Iceland, Thailand, and Turkey. Thailand last competed in 1954, while Austria, Iceland, and Turkey last competed in 1957. Alaska, Australia, British Guiana, Chile, Paraguay, Singapore, Suriname, Venezuela, and the West Indies withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.[3]
Christine Matias of the Philippines was set to compete at Miss Universe, but was barred by her university, the Philippine Women's University, as they do not allow their students to wear a swimsuit in front of the public.[4][5] Aida Kadamani was supposed to represent the United Arab Republic at Miss Universe, but withdrew after refusing to wear a swimsuit in front of the judges.[6] She was then replaced by Nawal Ramli, but she also did not push through with the competition as the pageant organizers failed to answer her queries whether she could substitute Kadamani.[6] Indonesia was supposed to compete for the first time, but was not able to send a candidate due to protests in Jakarta against the creation of Miss Indonesia.[7] Other countries who would not sanction their people to appear in swimsuits according to Oscar Reinhardt, then-executive producer of Miss Universe Inc., include Ireland, Portugal, and Spain.[5] Spain and Portugal would send their first representatives in the following year.
Results
Miss Universe 1959 participating countries and territories
Same with 1955, fifteen semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition. Each of the fifteen semi-finalists gave a short speech during the final telecast using their native languages. Afterwards, the fifteen semi-finalists paraded again in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and the five finalists were eventually chosen.[11]
Selection committee
Maxwell Arnow – American director
Claude Berr – French director, writer, producer, actor and film distributor[12]
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Japan
Thailand
England
